A formation flight with No 1 Squadron F/A-18F Super Hornets and a Bristol F2B Fighter, the aircraft type flown by 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps during the first World War has commemorated the squadron’s Centenary and marked its first operational sorties on 12 June 1916.

The Bristol F2B Fighter provided by TAVAS (World War I Vintage Aircraft Society) was flown by 86-year old, ex-77Squadron Fighter Combat Instructor Jack McDonald. The Bristol was painted in WWI-era colours and had the tail number B1229.

This tail number was flown by Ross McPherson Smith who achieved 10 of his 11 victories in the aircraft.

TAVAS has the only collection on flying WW1 type aircraft in Australia (www.tavas.com.au).

No 1 Squadron headquartered at RAAF Base Amberley comes under the command of 82 Wing within Air Combat Group.

Originally, the squadron was formed under the Australian Flying Corps in 1916 and saw action in the Sinai and Palestine Campaigns during World War I.

The squadron flew obsolete Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2s, B.E.12s, Martinsyde G.100s and G.102s, as well as Airco DH.6s, Bristol Scouts and Nieuport 17s, before re-equipping with the R.E.8 in October 1917 and finally the Bristol Fighter later that year.

Its commanding officer in 1917–18 was Major Richard Williams, later Sir Richard Williams, known as the “Father of the Royal Australian Air Force”.

Disbanded in 1919, No. 1 Squadron was re-formed on paper as part of the RAAF in 1922, and re-established as an operational unit three years later.